The HBRC Experience
Sunday worship: 10:00 AM followed by Cookies and Coffee.
Communion is celebrated on the First Sunday of the month.
A children’s church is available during the service.
Feel free to dress casually.
ALL are welcome. We mean everyone. High Bridge Reformed Church offers an inclusive, modern message through a traditional worship service, informed by the Heidelberg Catechism and guided by the Revised Common Lectionary. Our service is enriched by the musical contributions of our organist/pianist, and guest musicians from our congregation and community.
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If you are visiting, or just curious why we do what we do – you can find an overview of the elements of our regular worship service here.
What to expect:
Both main doors bring you into the back of the Sanctuary.
An usher will be there to guide you if needed. All things needed for worship will be on the back table. Each week we ask everyone to sign the attendance list and pick up a bulletin, that will be used to follow worship. Depending on the activities of worship there may be a Communion bulletin, a music insert or other papers on the back table.
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On the right back table, you will find information on our mission activities and other reading materials. Here also is where prayer cards and the offering plate are located.
Currently the ushers are not passing the offering plate or collecting prayer cards during worship services. Offerings and prayer requests cards are put in the plates located in the back before worship service starts and the usher will bring the plate and prayer cards up during service. The offering plate is to the left of the middle isle and the prayer request cards are to the right of the middle isle.
Sunday service starts at 10am, and typically lasts until about 10:45a-11am, depending on our activities of the day – communions, baptisms, ordinations, and special services may extend that time. We hope you will also join us for Cookies and Coffee in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the worship service where you can enjoy refreshments and visit with our community!
Visitors
If you’d like to share your name and contact information with the church office, please sign the guest book in the back of the Sanctuary. We will contact you in the week after your visit to connect and welcome you.
We are not big on the “hard sell,” so you guide our interactions from there on. If you are new to High Bridge Reformed Church, please let an usher (standing or sitting in the back of the Sanctuary) know and they will answer any questions. You are also always free to email the church office, info@hbreformedchurch.org, with any questions you may have.
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Families with children
We love kids and welcome all their wiggles and giggles--it is the sound of life! Children learn best by imitation and play, therefore we believe it is vital they be in worship and see adults modeling their faith.
Your children are welcome to get up and move around as need be.
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Children of all ages are welcome to join in our Sunday Message for All Ages, where the pastor will offer a small lesson at the front of the sanctuary. Some of our children bring their adults with them, too; whatever makes your child most comfortable is fine with us! Children up through middle school ages are dismissed to Kid Church in the Fellowship Hall (or classroom depending on the activity) after the Message of All Ages.
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​For children attending the beginning of service, we have a set of children’s activity bags in the Foyer just outside of the sanctuary, in the basket on the bookshelf. The ushers can help you locate these.
Kids' Church
is for children pre-school – middle school. An activity is planned each Sunday to expand on the Scripture used during worship. Coloring and wiggling are always planned! Children will meet their parents in the Fellowship Hall after worship has ended.
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Depending on the activity, Kids' Church will be held in the large classroom (upstairs using the door exiting the back of the Sanctuary), small classroom (upstairs using the door exiting the front of the Sanctuary), or in the Fellowship Hall.
Communion Sundays
We always celebrate Communion on the first Sunday of the month, and we occasionally celebrate at other times in the liturgical year. We invite all Christians who have been baptized, at any age and in any church of any denomination, to partake with us of the Lord’s Supper. We follow the Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper bulletin, that is provide along with the regular weekly bulletin. Sometimes we walk to the front to receive the bread and cup by intinction, sometimes we stay seated and elders distribute the elements… we’ll describe the process as we go!
For anyone who is not comfortable sharing the communal plate and cup, or is unable to walk to the front, there are individual communion cups and wafers available at the back table with the bulletins.
After Service
Following the benedictions, we enjoy a musical postlude during which you may leave, or sit and enjoy the music and another moment of reflection. You will be greeted by pastor Ed upon your exit.
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​You’re cordially invited to join us for coffee and cookies and casual conversation after worship in the Fellowship Hall. Hurry or else the kids will eat all the sweets!
Coffee Hour & Missions Activity
On the 3rd Sunday of every month, a member of the congregation hosts Coffee hour, which is a light breakfast immediately following Worship Service. During this time we welcome everyone in our church community and local community to join us for a mission activity. To learn more about our monthly missions click here.